The first solar community on the Bödeli is created in Matten
The first solar community on the Bödeli in the Bernese Oberland is being built on the roof of the equestrian centre in Matten. The roof offers space for 2390 square metres of solar panels. Around 220 people are taking part in the solar community.
Around 220 people have come together to form the IBI solar community based in Matten. According to a media release from Industrielle Betriebe Interlaken AG (IBI), the large-scale plant on the roof of the equestrian centre will be equipped with 2390 square metres of solar panels. The photovoltaic system will produce 463,000 kilowatt hours of solar power per year. This corresponds to the annual electricity needs of up to 120 households. According to the media release, the IBI has found that there is a great deal of interest among residents of the Bödeli, the area between Lakes Thun and Brienz in the Bernese Oberland, in solar installations. However, not all interested people have the roof space to install their own photovoltaic system. The solution is solar communities, in which several people participate in a communal system. Such a community system is now being built on the roof of the large equestrian centre in Matten. The interest was so great that the investment was ready just 18 days after the booking began. According to IBI, about 220 customers have participated in the roof, 40 per cent of them with a maximum area of 20 square metres. The participation amounts to 250 francs per square metre of panel area. In return, the investors receive a credit of 100 kilowatt hours of solar electricity per year over 20 years. IBI bears 100 per cent of the risk for the operation of the system. In the event of operational failures, snow on the roof or hail damage, the customers bear no risk. At the moment, the power grid in this area still needs to be strengthened and a transformer station may have to be built. According to the press release, IBI is already planning to invite tenders for a second solar community in 2023.